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Category: Superbikes
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PAIN STOPPED ANDREA WHO ATTEMPTED A STOIC RETURN TO THE SADDLE
It was an important day of testing today on the Spanish Jerez de la Frontera circuit, with all the MotoGP riders on the track. Two Aprilias were kept busy, Aleix Espargaró’s factory bike and the test team’s bike with Bradley Smith, whereas Andrea Iannone attempted to get back in the saddle but had to throw in the towel because of the pain.
Aleix was the first rider on the track from the first seconds of the tests and he carried out a plethora of tests during the 80 laps total that he turned. The tests involved engine torque management, weight distribution, various traction control configurations and a brand new rear suspension setup. The Spanish rider finished the session with a best lap of 1'37,758.
It was a highly intense schedule for Bradley Smith as well, turning 82 laps, the fastest of which in 1'38.077. The Aprilia test team’s operations focused on new components, different setups and the assessment of a few Michelin tyre solutions.
Still dealing with the after-effects of his crash in FP4 Saturday which prevented him from taking part in the race, Andrea Iannone was loath to give in and tried to get back in the saddle today after receiving the all-clear from the doctor. Unfortunately, the lack of strength caused by pain in his left foot kept him from shifting gears properly, so the rider and team decided to stop testing straight away to give the foot as much time as possible to heal. Comforted by the good sensations he had in FP4 and the great job done by teammate Aleix, Andrea stated that he is confident in anticipation of Le Mans.
ALEIX ESPARGARO'
"This day of testing was very important for us. In fact, I was the first one out on the track. We worked non-stop, both in anticipation of Le Mans and to continue development on the RS-GP. As always when testing, some solutions return better results than others. It will be essential to carefully analyse the data collected today to decide which line to follow in the upcoming rounds."
BRADLEY SMITH
"It was a rather busy day. We worked on three fronts: the hard front tyre, which we confirmed as the right choice for our bike on this track, weight distribution and some components we needed to evaluate in terms of performance and reliability. Since I got close to Andrea’s and Aleix’s performance, the feeling is that I can contribute to overcoming the limits that the factory riders are highlighting. It is not an easy process. It takes time, but we have a structure capable of doing it. I think that in the coming months we’ll be able to make some targeted changes in our weaker areas."
ANDREA IANNONE
"I tried, but I was lacking strength in my foot to shift gears. It’s a pity because I would have liked to use the day of testing to confirm the positive note on which we had begun to work in FP4 where, before the crash, I was doing rather well. We received some confirmation from Aleix in the race and that is definitely positive. From tomorrow I’ll begin my recovery, but I am sure that I’ll be able to be at 100% for the Le Mans weekend."
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ANDREA IANNONE VICTIM OF A BAD CRASH
BRADLEY SMITH ON THE SEVENTH ROW
A tenth of a second kept Aleix Espargaró from gaining direct access in FP3 to the second qualifying session today, a tiny gap that bears witness once again to how competitive the MotoGP starting grid is on the Jerez de la Frontera circuit. The Spanish rider then went through Q1 boldly, finishing with a time of 1'37.625 that earns him the first spot on the sixth row.
His garage mate, Andrea Iannone, had a bad crash on turn 11 in the early stages of FP4. Although X-rays showed that there were no fractures, the rider was declared unfit to race due to severe pain to his left foot. The situation will be assessed and updated with a check-up tomorrow morning.
Bradley Smith will start from the seventh row tomorrow, doing his best time ever on the Jerez track while continuing his usual development work on the Aprilia RS-GP again today.
ALEIX ESPARGARO'
"This morning, we worked hard with the goal of going through to Q2, missing it by just one tenth of a second, after which I gave it my all in Q1 as well, but finishing in the top 12 just wasn’t in the cards. We cannot be satisfied with our starting position, but in compensation, during FP4 we found some good solutions for the race, both in terms of setup and in terms of tyres. Tomorrow I will try to start well and maintain a good pace all the way to the finish with the goal of getting into the top ten. We expect higher temperatures tomorrow, so I will probably put on the harder compound tyres which I feel better with."
BRADLEY SMITH
"Yesterday evening we did everything we could to relieve the pain and it was good to get back on the back feeling almost none. Having said that, we did not want to take too many risks today. In any case, my time in qualifying is the best I've ever done here at Jerez, so I am pleased even if I would have liked to have gotten below 1’38”, and we had the potential to do it. In the warm up session tomorrow we’ll try to use a mix of two different configurations we tested today in order to keep improving for the race, where we’ll be able to battle for points."
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The Aprilia Racing Team Gresini has a new, important partner for the 2019 MotoGP campaign: Zoccarato Industrial Painting is in fact the new technical sponsor of the Italian team – who have recently completed the 2019 season opener in Qatar (March 10th).
With over 60 years of presence on the Italian territory and now leader in the industrial painting sector, Zoccarato Industrial Painting joins the Gresini family and their logo will be visible on the mudguards of the two Aprilia RS-GP machines of Aleix Espargaro and Andrea Iannone, as well as in the pit-box and on the MotoGP team trucks.
ZOCCARATO ALESSIO, Zoccarato Industrial Painting AD. “It’s an honour for us to become Technical Partners of the Aprilia Racing Team Gresini. Romeo Zoccarato – the company founder – began this activity in 1962, after a working experience as employee in the painting department of Aprilia. After 50 years of experience, passion and care for details have led us here. We wanted to be present within this team, a team that shows the same passion for their mission as we have for ours. I wish all the best to the Gresini Racing Team! The journey into 2019 has just started!”
FAUSTO GRESINI – Team Manager “Romeo’s story is really wonderful: going from being an employee of the painting department in Aprilia to become sponsor of the Aprilia Racing Team Gresini. It’s with real pleasure that we welcome the Zoccarato family, owners of a great Italian company with an incredible tradition like ours. There is clear synergy between our two institutions and I hope this new partnership will bring immediate and positive results.”
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APRILIA IGNITES MUGELLO WITH PASSION
MORE THAN TEN THOUSAND AT APRILIA ALL STARS, THE CELEBRATION OF THE BRAND FROM NOALE
WITH IANNONE AND SMITH, THE MOTOGP TEAM PRESENTED THE NEW RSV4 1100 FACTORY AND THE SPECIAL 225 HP X VERSION THAT CELEBRATES THE RSV4’S TENTH BIRTHDAY
LIVING IT UP ON THE TRACK WERE MAX BIAGGI, LORIS CAPIROSSI, MANUEL POGGIALI, ALEX GRAMIGNI AND ROBERTO LOCATELLI
It was a huge celebration of enthusiasts who responded en masse to the call from Aprilia, a young and Italian brand that lives and breathes passion for motorcycles and racing, more alive than ever with a fantastic fan base and with the capacity to thrill and excite as it always has throughout its history.
More than ten thousand people descended on Mugello for the first edition of Aprilia All Stars, the day on which Aprilia celebrated its past and future, introducing the new 217 HP RSV4 1100 Factory to the public along with the MotoGP team. This new bike is a concentration of technology and racing know-how expressed to an even further extreme in the X version which, created for the tenth birthday of the RSV4 project, reaches 225 HP and a weight of 165 Kg.
These are two bikes that bear witness to the extraordinary bond between the Aprilia product and its Racing department which, backed by 54 world titles won, including seven in WSBK and 294 GP wins, is a true technological banner for the Piaggio Group and for the entire Italian motorcycling movement.
It was the FMI president, Giovanni Copioli, who acknowledged this role, awarding Piaggio Group CEO and MD Roberto Colannino on the track during the MotoGP team presentation.
The Aprilia Racing Team Gresini were on track with the 2019 RS-GP machines which made their début two weeks ago in Qatar, ridden by Andrea Iannone and Bradley Smith, who were the same riders to unveil the new Aprilia RSV4 versions which were then taken out on track by an extraordinary crew of Champions in the Aprilia World: Max Biaggi, Loris Capirossi, Manuel Poggiali, Alex Gramigni and Roberto Locatelli.
Biaggi’s parade lap astride his 1995 world championship RS 250, the sensational race with all the riders astride Aprilia SR 150 scooters, won in the final stretch by Manuel Poggiali and the display in pit lane of the bikes that have written Aprilia racing history filled an extraordinary day on which the public of Aprilia fans were protagonists. Participants ranged from those who are simply fans of the Italian brand, filling the grandstands and paddock that was livened up by music and games to the hundreds of fans in the Bearacer community who were able to meet the riders and share in a day of celebration with the entire team. And at the end, there was a spectacular parade of Aprilia bikes that invaded the circuit, the same track where the bikes from Noale, the most victorious bikes on the Tuscan hillside, have triumphed no less than 23 times in World GP races.
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The 2019 Moto3 season will see Sag Tubi alongside Gresini Racing for the ninth consecutive year. The internationally recognised Italian Company will once again be among the official sponsors of the quarter-litre class effort, as well as technical sponsor for the MotoGP part of the outfit.
This is going to be a very important season for Gresini Racing and for Sag Tubi, as the brand is celebrating their 50th year of existence by supporting Gabri Rodrigo and Riccardo Rossi in Moto3 and the standard bearers of Aprilia Racing: Andrea Iannone and Aleix Espargaró.
Sag Tubi – a leading European manufacturer of tubes and other related components - will have their logo displayed on Aleix and Andrea’s leathers as well as on the team uniforms of the newly-born Team Kömmerling Gresini Moto3.
Walter Zini - CEO Sag Tubi SpA
“We are happy and obviously proud to extend our support to Team Gresini in the MotoGP and Moto3 classes for another season. 2018 was a year full of success, which gave Team Del Conca Gresini Moto3 the world title; we really wish to thank again all the team for those unforgettable moments. There are many new things coming in 2019 with new riders joining the Gresini family, but I’m sure that, under the experienced direction of Fausto and his excellent staff, we will enjoy some more success. We are proud to associate our brand Sag Tubi to Gresini Racing for the ninth consecutive year and ready to live another exciting season. We will be among the most loyal fans of Aprilia Racing Team and Team Kömmerling Gresini Moto3.”
Fausto Gresini – Team Manager
“What can I say? Nine years together say a lot about this partnership, so I can only thank Walter for his faith in us, and the passion he gives. Last year we did amazing things together in Moto3 and we would like to do the same this season. While we know there’s a lot of work to do in MotoGP, we are also aware that a big improvement is possible, especially with the support of such a prestigious company as Sag Tubi.”
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